Members Present: Chairman Douglas R. North, Clerk Joseph M. Prior
Superintendent: Craig W. Jalbert
Secretary: Dale Barnes-Johnson
Open the Meeting: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Reorganize the Board: Passed over until all the Commissioners are present.
OLD/NEW BUSINESS
W&S Personnel ~ Craig provided a copy of the workmen’s comp letter from the doctor which indicated he is cleared to return to work though there is some double vision in extreme gaze and possible risk of lower neck pain.
Laborer Position ~ contingent upon Town Meeting Approval May 15, 2012, the position has been posted within the Union and will simultaneously appear in the paper.
Town Meeting Article Requests ~ In addition to the Water and Sewer FY2013 level funded budgets (with the exception of Salaries minimal contractual increases), there are two ATM Article transfer from free cash (Enterprise Funds) requests a Sewer request for $10,000 for Sewer Easement Clearing, and the other a $55,000 Water request for replacement of our 2001 utility truck.
Department Activity~
Sewer Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) ~ Doug inquired on the future plans for continued testing and sealing sewer mains. Craig expects the daily flow average 360,000/day to drop off with the rain; looking ahead there may be an opportunity to continue this process if flushing is not done.
DIG Safes ~ are ramping up for tree planting
Cross Connection Plan ~ Craig advised the Commission he is faced with a unforeseen task the Mass DEP snuck in a letter that requires every public water system (PWS) with a population served of > 3,300 people to have an updated cross connection program (CCP) approved by the Department. While there is program in place, in the past the regulations have not changed and it was never strictly enforced, however the Mass DEP is now enforcing that all PWSs meet the current requirements and submit an updated CCP on the official Mass DEP form by May 25, 2012. If a device fails the owner has 14 days to repair and retest or be found non-compliant, it used to be up to the supplier; customers must now have a repair parts kit and any special tools required for the removal and reassembly of the backflow prevention
device. Craig has to submit an 18 page form, along with form letters on PWS letterhead designed specific for Mass DEP approval. Letters include, survey violation notice, a design submittal form, survey violation 2nd notice, plan/design approval, plan/design disapproval, termination of service notice, and inspection failure notice.
Surveying has been limited, gauged on degree of hazards where cross-connections were likely to be a threat to the public water system, and where modifications occurred, i.e. Beth’s Family Restaurant, Schools, and Montec. The paper trail of violation, approval, design has now stepped up. Craig spent last week working on this procedure; and spoke with Mass DEP who confirmed work can be sub-contracted to a Certified Cross Connection Surveyor. The PWS Cross Connection Program Coordinator and the Certified Cross Connection Surveyor must both sign off on the Backflow Prevention Plan/Design Submittal Form on our PWS letterhead. As PWS Cross Connection Program Coordinator Craig feels he should have that knowledge and get certified, there is a 5 day
course through New England Water Works Association offered.
Tow Behind Generator ~ The reviewed and marked up bid specification has been sent back to Tata & Howards (T&H). Craig reviewed and added a few things, such as testing the unit onsite.
Road Projects ~ Margaret Street is complete, structures raised, one more water service required a new curb stop.
Bills ~ Quarterly bills for usage period January – March will be going out Friday, April 20th. The new meter reading hand held units and software are working out nicely.
Craig continues to get caught up on the monthly reports and behind the scene record keeping, in his absence the majority of the work got done, which has allowed him to come in and follow up and put the pieces together. Sampling schedule is on line, there are extra requirements with chlorination that were brought to light on the Sanitary Survey. The chlorine analyzers at the stations require weekly calibrations and this must be documented on four separate forms. This is totally new to the DEP, they are coming out Wednesday to instruct us on how they want it to done.
Sewer Issue at Lamcotec ~ Lamcotec sent a letter requesting reimbursement on most of the expenses LAMCOTEC (LCT) incurred during their recent sewer backup which they believe was as a result of faulty work done by the Town of Monson when the sewer service was connected to the sewer main on Bethany Road.
Based on our records and drawings the sewer stub that presently services 152 Bethany Rd. was requested by Mark Heim of Lamcotec and then properly installed and inspected by our Department on June 7, 1996. This was done in advance of the Tobey Road Reconstruction Project to avoid tearing up the new road at a later date for a future sewer connection. The original sewer permit was signed by our then Superintendent Peter Hull, drain layer Donald Chaffee and a representative of Lamcotc. In 2004 the stub was finally connected to their wastewater discharge and billings commenced, 8 years of service was provided without any mention of any blockages or on-going problems until February 8, 2012. When dug up, a section of pipe was missing and the soil was black from leakage.
The Commission reviewed the drawings and pictures. It would appear during the road reconstruction project the section of pipe must have been damaged and ripped out as evidenced by a photograph where it clearly shows the cracked spigot end of the exposed section of 6” SDR-35 sewer pipe. Based on our records, there is a 36” diameter concrete drainage pipe 6” below the sewer stub, and during its installation the sewer connection was most likely damaged. The construction crew must have been in a very big hurry as they did not notify our Department and instead took it upon themselves to patch it with whatever they had laying around. We have no way of knowing for sure, however they may have used a section of sonotube that fit over the ends
of the PVC and packed the gaps with the oakum that Tom Murphy found in the ditch. The connection was never used until hook-up in 2004 and then once usage started the sonotube slowly began deteriorating but maintained a flow of wastewater sufficient to keep the line working. There had to be something in place to act as a conduit or we would have had problems within a week in 2004. A fully functioning septic system wouldn’t even be able to handle the volume of water this facility uses on a daily basis.
The Commission wish to have a letter drafted for Lamcotec explaining it was not faulty work done by the Town of Monson that caused the problem, but most likely subsequent damage by a contractor. However, regardless of how it happened, the damaged/patched pipe is located in the street and we are responsible for piping issues in the street. The Commission is agreeable to reimbursing Lamcotec in the total amount of $8,122.00 for the specific invoices enclosed with their letter. In addition, the Commission wishes to state in the letter that better communication from the building owner in the past could have averted some of the expenses that were incurred. If we were aware of ongoing issues we could have investigated and may have found the cause of the
problem less expensively.
Continuation Water Lines ~ Discussion took place on the need to stipulate in our Rules and Regulations that any continuation water lines presently in service should be upgraded to individual water lines. By law the person who owns the first house can demand the continuation water service to the second house be removed from their premises within a time limit when ownership changes hands.
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting has been set for Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
ADJOURN: A motion was made by Joe to adjourn from open session to go into executive session at 8:15p.m. Motion seconded by Doug. Motion passed unanimously.
___________________________________
Joseph M. Prior, Clerk
cc: Selectmen
| 
